Improvement in harvesters



3 Sheefs Shet 3. J. H. ELWARD.

Harvesters.

Patented August 19, 1873.

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AM PHoTw/mwMP/ucca mflassanusmace'ss) JOHN H. ELWARD, on row, ILLINOIS.

' IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,864, dated August 19, 1873; application filed December 27, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. ELWARD, of P010, county of Ogle, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my harvester; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the main axle and its yoke attachment. Fig. 4 is a rear view with the binders platform folded. Fig. 5 is an en'dview taken from the grain end of the platform, the platform being in section. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the skeleton fingerbar, showing the guard-f ngers in two positions; and Fig. 7 represents the gearing and gear-frame applied to a mowing attachment.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A is the main carrying and driving wheel, mounted upon axle A, and provided with a driving-gear to drive the cutters through any desired form of gearing. The axle A is provided at each end with vertical shields or yokes a, (see Fig. 3,) secured thereto by riveting, as at c the ends of the axle being preferably squared and shouldered to receive them. The axle is supported at any desired height relative to the main frame by pins which pass through said axle and through supporting-ears or. guidingstandards on the frameone at each side of the ends of the aXle-the object of .the yokes being to prevent a person from putting the pins through the ears either above or below the axle. This I accomplish by making a single hole, 0. through both the shield and axle at each end, so that the pin cannot be put in the wrong place.

- The main frame is composed of the longitudinal Lsills B B the posts 13 B B (see Fig. 1,) posts B B, (see Fig. 4,) overhanging bars B B gear-supporting plank G, and girt G 0 O are stringers bolted rigidly to sills B B andsupporting the cutting apparatus, grainwheel D, grain-guard D outer reel-bearer d, and the slatted carrying-apron D which receives the cut grain and delivers it to the elevator, which I will now proceed to describe. As the above-named parts, exceptthe elevator,

grain.

.convenient point.

are substantially identical in their construction with corresponding parts in my earlier machines, they need not be particularly described. The elevator-apron E is provided with transverse notched strips 0. These strips, instead of being square or rectangular in transverse section, are in the form of obtuse-angled triangles, attached to the apron by their short sides, so as to form buckets, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Their sides may be either curved, as shown, or straight. This form of slat is very important, in order to elevate the grain, as it would be impossible to make them take the grain from the horizontal apron if their carrying-faces were at right angles to the apron, as indicated at 6 dotted lines in Fig. 2, on account of. the carrying-belt being so far below the end of the elevator. I do not wish to be confined to the exact angle shown, but may vary it as circumstances shall determine. 6 are supporting wires or rods, arranged to lie in the notches in slats c. The lower ends of these rods are fixed in a bar, 0

(Figs. 1 and 2,) mounted upon stringers O O or other suitable support. F is a board or rail, bolted to the overhanging ends of bars 13 B". F is a seat-rest, secured to rail F by a swivel-bolt, f. f are elastic independentlyacting rods or fingers, arranged at short distances from rods e for properly confining the grain as it is being elevated. The lowerends of rods f are fixed in a rib, F suspended from rail F by means of strap-sprin gs f shown plainly in Figs. 1 and 2. f are adjustable links or straps, attached to rib F in such manner that either end or both ends of said rib and the lower ends of rods f 1 can be withdrawn at will to a greater distance from the apron E, thus regulating the amount of pressure upon either the heads or the butts of the This enables the operator to retard either end of the straw. Thus, when the grain is leaning, so that it falls diagonally upon the platform, and one end of the straw is delivered to the elevator in' advance of the other end, its ascent may be so regulated by varying the pressure that it (the grain) shall be delivered with great uniformity. G is the tongue, hinged to the frame at any G is a lever, pivoted to rail F, and connected with the tongue by ATENT CFFIGE.

means of the rock-shaft G and link g. g is a sector-plate. g is a spring-latch on lever G and engaging with a series of perforations in the sector, as shown. By means of these devices the machine can be rocked or tilted upon the main drive-wheel and grain-wheel, as will be readily understood without further explanation. G is the inner reel-post, made adjustable by means of a slotted link, or in any well-known manner. II is the binders platform, suspended upon pivoted overhanging arms in the usual manner. h are links, by which the platform is attached to the up per pair of pivoted bars or arms. This platform is inclosed upon all four sides, so as to form a receptacle for the shattered grain. The platform is perforated with holes of a suitable size, to permit grain to pass through. H is a pouch, sack, or other suitable receiver, to hold the grain which is separated from the refuse by the shaking and jarring motion of the platform. 11 are movable binders supports. h are movable saddles, in which the binders can sit when it is desirable for them to do so. I I 1 is a jointed grain guard or shield. The upper part I is hinged to the elevator. The central part I is hinged to the frame-work, preferably to the rib to which the grain-receiver J is hinged, the lower part being hinged to the platform.

The advantage gained by making this shield in hinged parts is twofold: First, it affords a ready means of access to the gearing and under side of the elevator; and, second, it facilitates the folding of the machine, as, by tipping the lower part I forward, part I escapes and falls into a perpendicular position, and is entirely out of the way.

Although I have shown this grain guard made in three pieces, yet many of the advantages incident to its construction will be found in one made in two parts; hence I do not wish to be limited to making it in three pieces, because I regard the principle and practical operation to be substantially the same under either construction.

K K are wings or side pieces on each side of the elevator. The front wing K is located some distance in front of a line drawn perpendicularly to the front edge of the carryin gapron D and is supported by post B rising from the projecting end of the gear plank or frame instead of from one of the sills or stringers, as is the case in machines heretofore constructed.

Much difficulty has been experienced in elevating grain cut with machines of this class when they are tilted forward so as to get the cutters down close upon the ground to cut lodged or short grain, particularly barley, from the fact that the reel would not carry it back far enough upon the apron; hence, when it came to the elevator, it would hang over the edge and could not be carried up but by my arrangement of overhanging the front edge of the elevator and its wing K the difficulty is entirely obviated.

L is a guide-board or fender, arranged in an inclined position at the rear side of the carrying-belt, as shown plainly in Figs. 1 and 5. The object of this fender is to prevent the beards of the grain from sticking into the joint between the vertical back B and its supporting-stringer. As the lower edge of the fender projects under the rear edge of the apron the heads cannot get under the shield; and when the grain falls far enough back upon the platform the heads are turned upward, and the beards will not become engaged with any portion of the platform.

In existing machines it has been found difficult to out very short or badly-lodged grain on account of the thickness of the wooden bar, upon the upper edge of which the cutters are mounted, which brings them too high from the ground. In my improved construction I obviate this difficulty by making the front stringer hollow, and operating the cutters through the front wall of the same.

In practice, I usually employ a metal plate for the front, as it affords a much better support for the guard-fingers, especially when the shanks are made angular in form, as shown in detached view, Fig. 6.

In the drawings, I have shown the crankwheel M and pitman m at the rear of the machine, the pitman being connected with the cutter-bar by a vibrating arm, m, as will be readily understood. If the cutters are arranged near the lower edge of the hollow stringer, as in Fig. 5, the arm may be pivoted to the bottom board of the grain-platform; and when the cutters are higher up a support may be provided by running a girt through between the upper and lower part of the carrying-apron. (See Fig. 2.)

By operating the cutters through the hollow stringer, I am enabled to extend my apron close to the line of the open end of the guardfingers, so that all of the straw shall lie upon said apron, which enables me to carry very short grain with certainty and without straggling.

As a modification of the perforated binders platform, I may prefer to use a ribbed or corrugated one, which shall separate the grain from the straw and deliver it (the grain) into receptacles at the ends of the grooves.

N, Figs.2 and 4, is a lifting-jack, pivoted to the main frame. As shown, it is raised so as to clear the ground; but by placing the pin a in the upper hole, with the lower end of the jack thrown forward and resting upon the ground, and moving the machine forward, it (the machine) will be drawn up on the jack, and that end will be lifted from the ground, so that the drive-wheel can be removed or adjusted atwill.

The carrying and elevating apron may be driven by any usual or desired arrangement of belts or driving-chains. When preferred, metal strips may be employed instead of the ribs 0.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In combination with the binders platform, provided with openings, the pouch H or supplemental grain-receptacle, adapted to treceive the shattered grain from the platform and protect it against injury from the feet of the binders. W

2. The combination, substantially as described, of the elevating apparatus and binders platform with the grain-guard, made in two or more hinged sections, whereby ready access is afforded to the gearing and under 1 side of the elevator.

I 3. In combination-with a removable gear plank or frame, the main driving and gear wheel A, provided with two concentric gears and two crank-shafts, the forward one being inclined and driven at a high speed for mowing, the rear shaft being driven at a lower speed for reaping, these parts being arranged substantially as described, whereby the gearing is adapted to be used for both reaping and mowing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of December, A. D.

JOHN H. ELWARD.

Witnesses:

ALEXR. MAHON, H. H. DOUBLEDAY. 

